Project Description
Jingle Clam
Anomia simplex
Range/Geographical Distribution: Cape Cod to the Caribbean.
Habitat: Shallow marine waters attached to hard substrates like shells and jetties.
Description: Thin, translucent-shelled bivalve with highly variable colors from black to silver to yellow to orange. The lower shell has a hole in it where byssal threads protrude to attach the animal to its substrate.
Size: Can reach three inches in diameter.
Food: Filter feeder; eats plankton and detritus.
Predators: Other snails, fish, and crabs.
Conservation Status: No legal status.
Interesting Facts: The name of this clam comes from the sounds that a collection of shells makes when rattled together. Although related to oysters, jingle clams have a bitter taste and are not good for human consumption.
On the Coast: While live animals are rarely seen, jingle clam shells are often found along Georgia’s beaches.